ABSTRACT
I like to put television drama into two distinctive categories: plot-driven and character-driven. Plot-driven dramas — which are usually more along the lines of procedurals — like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — concentrate heavily on story. Character-driven dramas like Downton Abbey focus more on character. There are, of course, a few hybrids like The Good Wife , which straddle both. But, for the most part, most shows are either plotdriven or character-driven. For you to have the strongest portfolio possible, I would suggest you write one drama in each of these categories. This may sound easier to pull off than it actually is. As you will soon see, both plot-driven dramas and character-driven dramas come with separate but equal challenges. Most writers seem to prefer working in one arena over the other. So where do you fit in? You can easily figure that out by examining the kind of TV shows you find most appealing. Are you someone who doesn’t miss an episode of The Masters of Sex? If so, you are likely more drawn to character-driven dramas. On the other hand, if you find yourself absolutely intrigued by the “who dunnit” shows like CSI , then plot-driven drama is likely more your cup of tea.
